USF at UAB Prediction - College Football Picks 10/7/23

UAB Blazers (1-4) vs USF Bulls (3-2)

Game Info: Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm (Protective Stadium)

Betting Odds: UAB Blazers +2.5 -- Over/Under: 66 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The South Florida Bulls will head up to Birmingham to meet the UAB Blazers in AAC play this weekend from Protective Stadium on ESPN2. USF and UAB faced off twice during their time in Conference USA in the early 2000’s, and they split the two matchups.

South Florida Bulls Preview

South Florida improved to 3-2 after defeating Navy in Annapolis, 44-30. The Bulls used a big second half to open conference play with a 2-0 start, and they’ll attempt to make it three straight this weekend. The USF offense is scoring 28.2 ppg, while passing for 294.0 ypg, rushing for 184.4 ypg, and converting 39.3% of their third downs.

USF Player Notes

• Byrum Brown wasn’t able to do much with his legs versus Navy, but he torched them through the air, going 26/34 for 338 yards, with three touchdowns. The freshman quarterback has been flawless in both conference games, and he’ll look to keep things going in Birmingham this weekend. Brown has thrown for 1,233 yards, with nine touchdowns to three interceptions, and he’s rushed for 330 yards and five scores on the ground thru five starts.

• Florida transfer Nay’Quan Wright has scored in back-to-back games, and he leads the backfield in rushing with 291 yards on 70 carries.

• Junior wideout Sean Atkins scored multiple touchdowns in the win over Navy, and he leads USF in catches (28), with 331 receiving yards.

• The USF defense has allowed 28.2 points per game.

UAB Blazers Preview

UAB dropped to 1-4 after losing to Tulane in New Orleans, 35-23. The Blazers fought hard and even led at the break, but they’d end up falling to the Green Wave, and they’ll look to avoid a fifth straight loss Sunday. The UAB offense is scoring 27.0 ppg, while passing for 294.0 ypg, rushing for 124.2 ypg, and converting 43.8% of their third downs.

UAB Player Notes

• Jacob Zeno did all he could against a strong Green Wave defense, going 27/35 for 236 yards without a score or pick. The junior quarterback has dealt with two of the tougher units in the country in Georgia and Tulane, but he’ll now get a crack at a vulnerable USF team. Zeno has thrown for 1,442 yards, with eight touchdowns to four interceptions, and he’s added three scores on the ground thru five games.

• Sophomore back Isaiah Jacobs gained a season-high 95 yards and scored twice in the loss to Tulane, and he leads UAB in rushing with 249 yards on 55 touches.

• Freshman wideout Amare Thomas has caught nine passes in back-to-back games, and he leads the Blazers in receptions (23) for 227 receiving yards.

• The UAB defense is allowing 36.0 points per game.

USF vs UAB Trends

• USF is 3-2 against the spread, with a 2-3 O/U record.

• UAB is 3-2 ATS, with a 2-3 over/under record.

Corey’s Free Pick

UAB will return home after a grueling two-game stretch, and I feel they are simply due a win here. The Blazers weren’t going to beat Georgia in Athens, but they nearly defeated Tulane in New Orleans, and they’re going to compete with USF in this contest. The Bulls have something special in Byrum Brown at quarterback themselves, but they haven’t been able to stop anyone defensively, leaving them vulnerable here on the road. Take a swing on UAB here as underdogs, and give the under a look, as the number is sitting pretty high.